Dear John,

On this day, the 84th anniversary of Kristallnacht ("The Night of Broken Glass"), the words of Anne Frank should inspire us to action. 

In her diary, she wrote: "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

With the frightening rise in antisemitic incidents across the globe, we must do something and we must do it now.

Education plays a pivotal role. 

We must teach our young people that the antisemitic slurs, tropes and hate-filled speech they're witnessing from celebrities like Kanye (Ye) to sports figures like Kyrie Irving to multiple politicians stem from fear, ignorance and hatred. More importantly, they need to be shown how to challenge it.  

ADL Education is the leader in Holocaust and Antisemitism education.  Below are some of the programs, resources and professional learning we offer to help you and your students address this critical topic. These resources are free to educators.

RESOURCES:

Unit on Historical Antisemitism

Students learn about the origins of antisemitism and how this hatred was exploited by the Nazis during the 1920s and 1930s as part of their racist ideology. Visual history testimonies and other primary sources are used throughout the lessons to deepen understanding of critical themes. 

Gringlas Unit on Contemporary Antisemitism

Lesson plans to increase students’ awareness that antisemitism did not end after the Holocaust and provide them with opportunities to learn about the persistence of antisemitism in its contemporary forms and explore ways to take action against this hatred. 

Antisemitism Digital Kits 

Each kit bundles resources related to a key concept or topic on antisemitism. They include background information for professional learning, guided lessons, student learning materials for assignments or in-class work, family resources and suggestions for children’s or young adult literature. 

STUDENT LEARNING:  

Timeline of the Holocaust

Designed as a resource for students, this timeline chronicles key dates in Holocaust history from 1933-1945. Click on specific events to deepen learning with additional information including eyewitness testimonies and other primary source materials. 

Student-Directed Activities - Explore the Past: Shape the Future

New online, self-directed activities to increase student knowledge about core topics of Holocaust history, antisemitism, and related issues. These dynamic activities combine the power of Holocaust survivor and witness testimony with inquiry-based learning pathways to encourage critical thinking, reflection, and understanding of this vital history and its ongoing meaning.  

BINAH: Building Insights to Navigate Antisemitism & Hate

A digital course for students that motivates them to identify as global citizens with respect for all people, regardless of the makeup of their school community. Topics include the impact of antisemitic attacks on American society as a whole, the vast diversity of modern Jewish life, and how to be a strong ally. 

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: 

Mini Course - Examining & Responding to Antisemitism in American Culture and Society  

A short online course with facilitator-led exploration of resources that support teaching strategies to help students understand contemporary antisemitism and how it manifests in the US today. 

3-Part Course - Teaching about Contemporary Antisemitism 

Explore resources to deliver thoughtful, engaging, and historically accurate lessons on contemporary antisemitism for students. Course is interactive, asynchronous, and released over a three-week period; estimated 6-10 hours to complete. 


Utilizing these resources and programs, you can empower yourself and your students to address antisemitism head on and work towards building more inclusive and equitable schools and classrooms.

If we can help in any way, please reach out at [email protected] or visit adl.org/education.

In Partnership,

The ADL Education Team